A few weeks back, I described how to conduct an “extreme portfolio makeover”—to scour your investments for holdings which no longer fit your financial plan. There are at least seven ways in which an investment might end up in the “doesn’t fit” category. But at a high level, they fall into one of two [...]
Extreme Portfolio Makeover, Part II
By now, it’s no secret that the costs charged by investment funds are critically important. In fact, when choosing among funds in the same category, they’re the single most important differentiator. In the words of Morningstar, the investment research firm, “If there's anything in the whole world of [...]
Five steps to sidestep the SECURE Act
Recently—as if on cue—Ebenezer Scrooge showed up in Washington. The result wasn’t pretty: A bill known as the SECURE Act, a favorite of the insurance industry, had been stuck in Congress all year. But suddenly, on December 20th, it got tacked onto another bill and signed into law. As far as I can [...]
How to control your tax bill
It's mid-November. Is there anything you can still do to trim your 2019 tax bill? There very well might be. One overlooked aspect of mutual funds is that they can significantly—though quietly—impact shareholders’ tax returns. By way of background, mutual funds, including exchange-traded funds [...]
The SECURE Act
When political parties set aside partisan bickering and agree on an issue, it's worth taking note. Such was the case last week when the House of Representatives voted 417–3 in favor of a bill known as the SECURE Act. This legislation would represent the most significant set of changes to retirement [...]
